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Seeking better cancer treatments
November 16, 2004
EUREKA project E! 1948 SASTEREC and its follow-up E! 2705 SAMARDES carried out essential research with the human androgen receptor to understand the mechanism of the mode of action of androgens. The human androgen receptor (hAR) binds the male sex steroids and regulates genes for male differentiation and development. The lengthy and meticulous research began in 1998 with E! 1948 SASTEREC. Structural evidence was found for fine-tuning ligand specificity in the binding domain of the human androgen receptor. This project identified and categorised the critical hormone binding sites through crystallisation and X ray determination of the 3D structure, and studied how they docked and acted. The researchers then tested the sites with agonists and antagonists to assess their possible use as hormone-based drugs to control tumours.
In E! 2705 SAMARDES, the research was extended to include investigations into mutated forms of the human androgen receptor (hAR). This work is important as 14 known mutations of hAR are known to be associated with either prostate cancer or partial or complete androgen receptor insensitivity syndrome. A double mutant of this receptor derived from an independent cancer line that had been shown to have glucocorticoid activity was structurally characterized.
"The two projects form a continuous sequence of research aiming to understand the mode of action of androgens. With the structural data in hand, the development of drugs that bind to the ligand binding domain of these receptors could become easier and lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects," explains Professor Maria Arménia Carrondo of the Portuguese Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnol'łgica (IBET).
These two EUREKA projects have forged an eight-year partnership between the leading pharmaceutical company in steroid hormones (Schering, Germany) and IBET.
"Schering has had an extremely fruitful collaboration with Professor Carrondo and her group for many years. It is this exchange of expertise and ideas between two organisations which leads to such positive results," says Professor Dr Peter Donner, Head of Protein Chemistry at Schering.
In terms of research and knowledge gained, the partners describe the projects as being 110% successful, having led to new patents and published papers. These will lead, in turn, to co operation with other patent holders to produce anti-cancer drugs for clinical trial and the market.
According to Manuel Carrondo, CEO of IBET, the importance of the projects goes well beyond the research itself. "It is critical for us in a small country to work with the top European companies and the success of these projects will help us to further convince our government of the importance of international co operation."
"EUREKA has provided us with a fantastic opportunity. It has enabled us to build up an excellent partnership with a leading company and to be involved from a very early stage of the research."
EUREKA is... A European Network for market-oriented R&D - strengthening European competitiveness - promoting innovation in market-oriented collaborative projects - involving industry, research centres and universities across Europe resulting in innovative products, processes and services.
Eureka
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Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists
by Scientific Explorer
Mind blowing experiments to delight and educate young scientists! Erupt a color changing volcano. Mix up magic ooze with a mind of its own. Play with sand that never gets wet. Mix safe chemicals and watch colors change before your eyes. You'll amaze yourself and your friends as you explore the science behind these truly remarkable reactions.
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The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series)
by Tom Robinson (Author)
Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space. You'll discover answers to questions like: Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it? What is inside coins? Can a magnet ever be "turned off"? Do toilets always flush in the same direction? Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person? Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms...
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Scientific Explorer's Disgusting Science - A Kit for Studying the Science of Revolting Things
by Scientific Explorer
Grow your own friendly germs and fuzzy molds. Mix up a batch of coagulating fake blood. Even make a stinky intestine. learn the science behind unmentionable bodily functions while doing some truly NASTY Experiments. Ages 8+
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Magic School Bus Journey into the Human Body Science Kit
by Young Scientist Club
The Magic School Bus and Ms. Frizzle take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the human body with these breathtaking experiments. Young Scientists bend bones, make joints, map taste buds, expand lungs, build a stethoscope, measure lung capacities and heart rates, perform the iodine starch test, spin glitter, simulate synovial fluid, create a human body poster, and much, much more! This exciting kit includes a life-size poster with eight sheets of body part stickers. So put on your seat belts, students, and get ready to discover The Human Body!
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The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic)
by National Geographic (Author), Marshall Brain (Foreword)
A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrations—including 3-D graphics and pictograms—make the information even more accessible and amazing to discover.
The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life...
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Scientific Explorer's The Magic Science Wizard's Kit
by Scientific Explorer
Cast real smoke from your fingertips, make a wizard wand, and whip up color-changing potions in your test tube laboratory. Also included are laminated cards with wizard facts, an instruction booklet with 11 activities, lab equipment, and mysterious wizard powders that will mix together to mystify you!
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Science: The Definitive Visual Guide
by Adam Hart-Davis (Author)
This remarkable reference book tells the story of science from earliest times to the present day, taking in everything from ancient Greek geometry to quantum physics, and the wedge to the worldwide web. Exploring science in a thematic, highly approachable manner, each spread takes as its theme a specific event, discovery, invention, experiment, theory, or individual and explains why this subject was so significant in the development of scientific thought and what its impact on history has been. In addition to providing a broad-ranging and comprehensive history of science, the book also explains how science works, employing DK's trademark clarity and visual ingenuity to render tricky scientific subjects easily comprehensible.
Science is structured chronologically with five...
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Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
by Elenco Electronics Inc
Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Winner We venture even Edison would be intrigued. Prepare to engineer 101 exciting, useful electronic gadgets & play lively electronic games with Snap Circuits Jr! This kit features a great collection of materials! The colorful and easy-to-follow format of the instruction manual makes circuit assembly stress-free and fun. All projects are simple to build and understand. Perfect for the novice engineer. All parts are mounted on plastic modules and snap together with ease. Leave the tools in the garage; everything you need for your electronics learning adventure is included. With Snap Circuits Jr. your understanding of electronics is a SNAP! 101 High Interest Projects Just a few: Flying Saucer, Music Alarm Combo, Pencil Alarm, Space...
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Scientific Explorer's Spa Science Chemistry Kit
by Scientific Explorer
Whip your bath into a frothy fizzing sea of color and fragrance. Make colorful, fragrant bath gels, bath fizzers, spa lotion, bath balm, a face mask, and shampoo. Mix colors and fragrances to creat your own product line with secret and exclusive mixtures. Explore the science of gels, fragrance and fizzers.
Mixing fragrances in the bathtub is a delight for both girls and boys. It’s one of the best ways to introduce them to the fun of science. Kids will spend hours in the tub with this kit mixing ingredients to make foaming frothing baths and smelling potions and conducting science experiments to see how scents affect our alertness, moods and memories. Comparing the responses of siblings, parents and friends makes this a shared adventure the entire family will enjoy
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The Complete Book of Science, Grades 5-6
by School Specialty Publishing (Author)
The Complete Book of Science for grades 5 to 6 teaches children important science skills! Children complete a variety of exercises that help them develop a number of skills in this 352 page workbook. Including a complete answer key this workbook features a user-friendly format perfect for browsing, research, and review. Over 4 million in print! The best-selling Complete Book series offers a full complement of instruction, activities, and information about a single topic or subject area. Containing over 30 titles and encompassing preschool to grade 8 this series helps children succeed in every subject area! ...
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